A new national study shows that Canada’s transgender youth face significant challenges, but are helped by strong family, school and community connections
The study was funded by the Canadian Institute for Health Research and completed in collaboration with universities and health researchers across Canada. It’s the first and largest of its kind in Canada, with 923 individuals participating between the ages 14-25. They answered a range of questions in English or French on their home and school life, physical and mental health, access to health care, and gender identity.
Two-thirds of those surveyed reported discrimination because of their gender identity. Not surprisingly, many participants also experienced mental health challenges. Nearly two-thirds reported self-harming in the past year, and more than one in three had attempted suicide.
Health care was also problematic, as only 15 per cent of youth with a family doctor felt “very comfortable” discussing their trans-specific health care needs.
Members of the research team are affiliated with Stigma and Resilience Among Vulnerable Youth Centre (SARAVYC), comprised of researchers dedicated to finding evidence-based strategies that will reduce stigma and improve resilience among vulnerable youth populations.
Positive sources of support for trans youth
But the report also uncovered positive sources of support for trans youth — parents, family members, schools, and community adults, especially when these adults supported the youth in living in their preferred gender.
Family is an important health influence for all young people, and when trans youth in the survey reported higher levels of family connectedness and support, they had better health.
Trans youth in the survey generally reported low connectedness to school, but when they did feel that teachers cared about them, and they felt they were part of the school, they were twice as likely to report good or excellent mental health.
Call for measures to improve well-being
The report calls for measures to improve the well-being of trans youth, including: improved support for families, so they can better understand and support their transgender children; developing safer, more inclusive schools; retooling health care to provide gender-affirming services for trans youth; and reducing health care disparities between provinces.
Read the research [opens to PDF] here: https://saravyc.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2015/05/SARAVYC_Trans-Youth-Health-Report_EN_Final_Web2.pdf
We speak with University of British Columbia postdoctoral researcher Jaimie Veale (above, right), one of the authors of the study.
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audio | most-listened-to in 2015 #peoplefirstradio @jveale @SARAVYC #TransHealth #lgbtq https://t.co/MDoTpsBp03 pic.twitter.com/SvJQPUqhEi
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audio | #peoplefirstradio interview with researcher Jaimie Veale @ubcnews http://t.co/MDoTpsBp03 pic.twitter.com/HVpxNwR8Yq
— People First Radio (@peoplefirstrad) May 15, 2015
